TWO defensive blunders gave the Doonhamers a half time lead but the home side were dominant after the break amid fan protests against the board.

Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni puts his side in front for the first time with a diving header

RED cards in the stands and red faces on the pitch.

That was the story of a horror first 45 minutes for Rangers , defined by a mass demonstration against the beleaguered Ibrox board and wretched defensive blunders that left them trailing an injury-ravaged Queen of the South side.

However, as bad as Rangers were in the opening period, they were equally as good after the break – inspired by substitute David Templeton.

The winger’s stunning equaliser within a minute of the restart set the tone for a dominant second-half performance, capped by Bilel Mohsni’s diving header and Kenny Miller’s first goal since returning to Ibrox for a third spell this summer.

That painted a much more flattering picture of the day’s events but the sea of red in the stands at strategic points of this game made it clear that things are far from rosy in the garden.

The DJ in charge of the tannoy must have been having a laugh before kick-off when Pharrell Williams’ hit song Happy echoed around this grand arena’s mighty stands.

Happy is surely the last word you would use to describe the strength of feeling within the Gers support at the end of yet another turbulent week in the club’s shambolic recent history.

Outside the stadium red cards were distributed to be brought out in the game’s 18th and 72nd minutes (anyone who needed to ask the significance of those numbers was probably sitting in the directors’ box).

The latest desperate launch of a share issue to raise £4million has prompted a mixture of fury at the board and fear for what may lie ahead if the club continues on its current ruinous path.

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There was sheer delight on the face of Queen of the South goal scorer Iain Russell

Amidst it all it was becoming difficult to remember there was actually a game of football to be played and Rangers manager Ally McCoist – who threatened to storm out of his pre-match press conference after being asked about the latest cash crisis – was determined to keep his players focused in spite of it all.

The manager’s biggest call was whether to re-instate fit-again Miller to the starting line-up after the veteran striker’s three-game absence with a tight hamstring.

But instead McCoist opted to reward Nicky Clark for the good job he has done filling Miller’s boots as a partner for Kris Boyd up front.

However, both men were to find nothing but frustration in the opening stages as a makeshift Queen of the South side – missing seven of their top-team stars through injury and suspension – started well.

Decimated in midfield with main men Mark Kerr, James Fowler and Paul Paton absent, the Doonhamers’ reinforcements showed an eagerness to impress and played a higher tempo than their hosts.

Rangers looked laboured and hadn’t created a single chance of note by the time the scoreboard clock hit 18 and the Broomloan Stand was suddenly transformed into a sea of red.

“Sack The Board,” they chanted while the directors sat impassively in their cushioned seats in the main stand.

If the supporters’ anger was evident then, four minutes later it was nuclear powered as Jim McIntyre’s visitors grabbed the lead.

Danny Carmichael’s dash down the right and low ball inside found Gavin Reilly in the heart of the box and the hitman did well to take a touch clear of Mohsni to rattle a deadly finish inside Steve Simonsen’s right post.

Suddenly jolted awake, Rangers poured forward and almost responded immediately as Clark cracked a shot wide and Boyd saw another beaten away for a corner.

By the 27th minute their increased urgency paid off as Lewis Macleod’s free-kick into a busy box found Darren McGregor lurking at the back post.

His shot from a tight angle was blocked by keeper Zander Clark but it broke only as far as Marius Zaliukas on the edge of the box and his looping header back in snuck over the line, helped by Mohsni barging in to put off the goalie.

But no sooner had the defensive pair combined to score at one end, they conspired to give it all away again at the other as Queens reclaimed the lead in 36 minutes.

Running freely to the box, Reilly’s simple ball inside was perfect for Iain Russell – untroubled in the heart of the area by Mohsni – to slot past the exposed keeper. Schoolboy stuff and no wonder the half-time whistle was greeted with a howl of boos.

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Rangers manager Ally McCoist tries to shout his team into shape

No surprise either that McCoist should respond with a double substitution, hooking scapegoat Zaliukas and the anonymous Arnold Peralta for Ian Black and Templeton.

A positive move that paid dividends immediately as Gers levelled within a minute of the restart.

A quick touch on to his left and a majestic sweep of his boot sent a lovely curling finish across the keeper that tucked inside the opposite post.

Suddenly Rangers looked a different and shaper side. As they turned the screw Chris Higgins headed a goalbound drive by Macleod over the bar, while Nicky Law’s header flashed just wide.

The home side did forge ahead on 64 minutes when Mohsni bravely dived to meet Law’s corner with a powerful header through a ruck of bodies.

Gers looked so in control now that the second and last protest seemed less vociferous – and with four minutes left they sealed the points. Miller had only just replaced the limping Templeton when Lee McCulloch’s long ball over the top was flicked on by Boyd for the hitman to sprint clear on goal.

His cool finish was the perfect way to announce his return to action – and grab the first goal of his third spell at the club.

McIntyre reckons there was a case for chopping off Gers’ first goal but admitted his side were overpowered in the second half.

He said: “We felt it was a free-kick for Mohsni piling in at the first goal.

“He barged the keeper but truth be told we should have defended the first header better and that is where the goal stemmed from.

“The players gave a great account of themselves today. They fell out of it in the second half but you’ve got to remember the level of player that Rangers have here.

“We are pleased to have put on a good show in the first half but at the end of the day we’ve lost the game and that’s disappointing.”